Back to Design: Taylor's Version

It's me, Hi! 

Whenever someone asks me to introduce myself, I say I’m a content writer at a UI UX design agency and a Swiftie (in my head), both full-time. 

Now for those who’re unfamiliar, Swiftie is a term for Taylor Swift fans. She’s a singer and…well that’s a different story in itself. 

But why are we talking about her? 

As a fan of an artist who is remarkable at creating experiences, and working at a place where beautiful experiences are born every now and then, I couldn't help but stitch the two together. 

Recently, Taylor Swift has been on a tour called the Era’s Tour, which also happens to be one of the highest-grossing tours ever. One would sit and think, what’s so special about her (art) that makes people want to fly across continents? 

Well, I did some research that churned out some solid reasons. And to my surprise, these factors play a huge role in designing a memorable experience for your product. Just like her shows!

Are you ready for it?

Here’s a little history before we dive deeper. Taylor Swift's career is a masterclass in evolution. Initially, she started with country hits, exploring indie folk and pop with her albums, fearlessly. Today, she's a global icon who's excelled in every genre she's touched.

Such intense genre-hopping isn’t for the delicate hearts. But dear reader, Taylor’s secret ingredient is the one to chase: authenticity. 

Today, where everything is created to sell or promote, and running behind trends is a trend, she’s stayed true to her voice and ways. 

Back to design, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of trends, but designers and stakeholders must learn to implement only what’s best for them and their users. Taylor is the perfect example of how one can create the most impact by staying original and authentic. 

Coming back to users. A 2021 survey shows that around 80% of people choose brands on the basis of trust. Now we all know that trust is a process. But, imagine a user visiting your website for the first time. How do you establish trust and credibility in that fleeting moment? Well, here’s a Swift secret for you: storytelling.

Swift is known for the way she writes her songs, not just because of their catchy phrases, but mainly because of the story behind them. The songs are beautifully crafted stories that revolve around her life, her experiences, and her opinions. Through this creative approach, she creates an unbreakable bond with her fans and fills the blank space between them.

Now which brand does not aim for such a loyal and strong relationship with their target audience? 

Regardless of the industry that your business falls into, forming strong bonds is a necessity. Here, the art of storytelling can be leveraged by stakeholders to connect with the users emotionally by opening the curtains to let the user see what goes behind the screens. Such genuineness can captivate the users’ attention and make them stay. 

But where comes trust, comes commitment. Once you’ve got the trust, it's your turn  to maintain that trust by focusing on building a healthy community. Swift and her fans keep facilitating engagement with surprise announcements and activities like exchanging friendship bracelets, arranging Swiftballs, leaving easter eggs, etc. 

And coming to its web design equivalent, think micro-interactions, interactive animations, and a user flow that feels more like a journey than a chore. By prioritizing user experience through such innovations, build a lively community that feels like one big happy family.

Speaking of user experiences, let’s not forget its twin - user interface. In the course of implementing various ideologies, one must never ever forget to design a clean, consistent, and clutter-free UI. 

This stems from yet another Swift observation. Swifties have seen Taylor evolving her sense of style and aesthetic with each album to support the experience. From a pastel palette in 2019 for her album Lover, to a monochromatic look in 2024 with her brand new release The Tortured Poets Department, Swift always keeps it simple, sophisticated, and significant. 

Mind you, all of this is only when it comes to looks (UI). When it’s experience, Swift sees no bounds and neither should your designs.

Today, experience design is an umbrella term that supports numerous other systems such as customer experience (CX), user experience (UX), employee experience (EX), design thinking, etc. But regardless, all you have to try doing is strike the right amount of balance between timeless and innovative. 

Forever and always!